Beneath the bluffs of Saint Paul, just across the river from downtown, a series of sandstone caves has had more lives than almost any other building in Minnesota. The Wabasha Street Caves were dug out for silica sand, later used to grow mushrooms, then turned into a speakeasy during Prohibition and a restaurant and dance venue in the 1930s, a period that gave the place its gangster reputation. Today the caves are an event space, and this one-hour guided tour tells that whole story in a storytelling style, led by a guide who knows the folklore and the documented history. It is one of the most distinctive things to do in the Saint Paul side of the Twin Cities because it combines local history, an unusual place and a good tale in a single hour. The tour starts and ends at the same spot, parking is free, and the meeting area is to the left of the main doors, which makes it easy to fit into a day in Saint Paul. With a rating of 4.8 from more than 200 travellers, it is among the best-regarded tours in the region, and the booking page shows it as wheelchair and stroller accessible.
What to expect
The caves are at 215 Wabasha Street South in Saint Paul. The tour lasts about an hour, in English, with a mobile ticket, and you choose a start time when you book. The page notes that the tour is typically booked about a week ahead, so reserve in advance for a weekend. Inclusions are the guided tour, restrooms and Wi-Fi.
The caves stay cool all year, and reviewers consistently recommend a light jacket, which makes it a comfortable choice in summer and a sensible layer-up in November. Wheelchair and stroller access is listed, service animals are allowed and most travellers can take part. As with other tours at this venue, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed.
Managing expectations
A few reviewers point out that much of the tour takes place in an event space inside the caves, with only a short stretch in the natural cave itself, so go for the story and the atmosphere rather than a long underground adventure. If you are expecting a wild cavern with stalactites, you will be disappointed; if you enjoy local history, Prohibition tales and a venue that has genuinely reinvented itself many times, you will be well served.
Storytelling tours depend on the guide, so listen for the difference between documented history and legend and ask questions. Gangster lore is a theme of the tour, but it is told as part of the larger story of the caves rather than as a spooky scare.
Making the most of it
Combine the tour with a morning at the Cathedral of Saint Paul or the State Capitol, then a late lunch in downtown Saint Paul. The caves are a short drive from the Saint Paul Hotel and well suited to a cold or rainy afternoon, because almost everything happens indoors.
Families with children old enough to follow a one-hour story will usually enjoy it, while very young children may find the cool, dim rooms less engaging. Wear comfortable shoes, arrive a few minutes early to find the ticketing area, and keep your phone handy for the mobile ticket.
What to expect
The experience
A one-hour guided storytelling tour of the Wabasha Street Caves in Saint Paul, mostly indoors in the cave event space.
Best time
Any day of the year, and especially a cold or wet afternoon, as the caves stay cool and sheltered.
How long
About one hour, starting and ending at the same spot.
Tips
Bring a light jacket, expect mostly event space with a short natural-cave stretch, and note that the booking is non-refundable.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History fans, Prohibition and gangster-lore enthusiasts and anyone who likes unusual venues.
- Families
- Good for children old enough to follow a one-hour story; the rooms are cool and dim.
- Couples
- A distinctive, atmospheric date-afternoon in Saint Paul, easy to pair with dinner downtown.
- Pair with
- The Cathedral of Saint Paul, the State Capitol or a Summit Avenue walk.
- Time needed
- About an hour plus a few minutes to find the ticketing area.
Good questions
Where are the Wabasha Street Caves?+
At 215 Wabasha Street South in Saint Paul. The tour starts and ends at the ticketing area to the left of the main doors, and parking is free.
How long is the cave tour?+
About one hour, in English, with a start time chosen when you book.
Is it a real cave?+
The caves were dug into sandstone, but much of the tour takes place in an event space inside them, with a shorter stretch in the natural cave.
Is the tour accessible?+
The booking page lists it as wheelchair and stroller accessible, and service animals are allowed.
What should I wear?+
A light jacket. The caves are cool all year, so even summer visitors tend to want an extra layer.
